Dollars and Sense: The Case for Prison Phone Justice

There are over 2.4 million children with a mother or father in jail or prison right now and tragically the high-cost of prison phone calls is cutting them off from contact. For 15,000 children in Minnesota this is a lived reality. Prison phone rates unfairly punish prisoners’ families, forcing them to pay up to $20 for a 15-minute collect phone call to speak with a loved one in prison. Thankfully, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking steps that would lower the cost of prison phone calls. The FCC recently initiated a proceeding, to determine if federal regulation is necessary for interstate prison telephone calling systems.

Middle class Minnesotans to feel impact of GOP sequester

Friday, 08 March 2013 13:35

The choice Republicans have made to not end this sequestration will have a huge impact on middle class Minnesotans in the coming weeks and months. Rather than eliminate tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans to reduce the deficit, Republicans chose cuts in vital services important to seniors, men and women in uniform, and children and schools.

NBCI pleads with the Vatican to rid itself of pedophiles during this Holy Conclave

Thursday, 07 March 2013 11:48

Washington DC – The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans is making a plea to the Catholic Church to fight against the tide of pedophilia that is a poison running through the veins of its leadership. NBCI calls on the Vatican to release all records of known pedophiles including Bishop Keith O'Brien to civil law enforcement officials of all jurisdictions here and abroad.

As winter conditions turn to spring melting, the Minnesota Department of Commerce is reminding Minnesota homeowners to determine if they may need flood insurance coverage. Flood damage is not covered under a standard homeowner's policy.

Former President Jimmy Carter interviewed on Pierce Morgan Tonight, CNN

New analysis reveals alarming disparity in hunger and poverty rates between African-American children and other U.S. children

Monday, 04 March 2013 15:49

Washington, DC – Bread for the World released new analysis recently revealing that African-American children suffer more hunger and poverty than do U.S. children as a whole. The analysis, titled “Hunger by the Numbers: Hunger and Poverty Among African-American Children,” explores the latest figures, breaking down African-American child poverty rates across several states and metropolitan areas.

(Washington, DC) The Honorable Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), an Iraq war veteran, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), a Washington-based national trade association for transportation professionals. The award will be given on March 13 at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Washington, DC during the annual Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation (CWWMN) breakfast, a Women's History Month recognition event. Tickets can be purchased through the COMTO website at: http://www.comto.org.

A great migration of our own

A Black History Month speech delivered at the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition Black History Month Breakfast, 2013

I bring you the greetings and well-wishes of the board of directors and members of the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce who stand with you in your quest to bring businesses together to make sure the West Broadway Corridor is thriving and filled with sound and successful businesses.